VOA: ‘Are Chinese/Russian Military Exercises an Effort to Offset US Primacy?’

Chinese 051B Destroyer

Russia and China have been conducting joint naval exercises:

Are Chinese/Russian Military Exercises an Effort to Offset US Primacy?

May 22, 2015

China and Russia conducted joint naval exercises this week in the Mediterranean Sea — a sign, some security experts say, that the two countries are stepping up defense cooperation to offset U.S. military primacy.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a total of 10 warships from the Russian Navy and China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy took part in the week-long exercises. The Chinese Defense Ministry said the joint exercises focused on navigation safety, at-sea replenishment, escort missions and live fire exercises.

The goal of such exercises “is to strengthen mutual understanding between the navies… regarding boosting stability, countering new challenges and threats at sea,” Vice-Admiral Alexander Fedotenkov, a deputy commander of the Russian Navy, said before the exercises began. Fedotenkov is leading the Russia navy in the exercises.

The Russian-Chinese exercises come as NATO and its allies are also holding military drills in Europe.

But Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov, insisted “the war games aren’t aimed against any third country and aren’t linked to the political situation in the region.”

Former U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Jeffrey Bialos told VOA that China may be using the exercises to try and keep its strategic options open.

“Maybe the Chinese see this as a way to offset the U.S. situation, and keep their foot in both camps, but this is too soon to tell,” Bialos said.

Former Japanese Minister of Defense Satoshi Morimoto said early in May in Washington that the joint exercises can help both China and Russia position themselves against the U.S. diplomatically.

“If you look at the contents of these exercises, they increase the skills of their troops, they also have cooperation of equipment, they can invite third country to join,” he said.

But Richard Weitz, Director, Center for Political-Military Analysis, Hudson Institute, told VOA that Beijing and Moscow are not becoming military allies despite growing defense ties.

“Their exercises are becoming more robust in East China, off Chinese coast, but it is nothing like the U.S. would do with Japan or our NATO allies,” he said. China and Russia “are not testing joint military operation at any capacity,” he added.

Experts say Russia has increased cooperation with the Chinese in both economic and military spheres while relations between Moscow and the U.S. have deteriorated amidst the standoff over Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping recently signed large economic deals after Putin gave Xi a warm welcome at the Victory Parade earlier in May. Chinese troops marched on Red Square during that event. http://www.voanews.com/content/are-chinese-russian-military-excercises-effort-to-offset-us-primacy/2782818.html

The answer to the question in the headline is yes.

Despite difference, Russia and China wish to topple USA naval primacy in Asia. They also both wish to topple the dominance of the USA dollar and its military around the world.

Bible teaches that Russia and China will end up in a military confederation together.

The following prophecy shows a military confederation including Russia (“people from the north”) and Asian nations like China (one of the “kings…from the ends of the earth”) will form:

50:41 “Behold, a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance;
They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon. (Jeremiah 50:41-42).

The above is also consistent with the following from the New Testament:

12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16).

Here we see that the kings of the East are those that need to cross the Euphrates. Russia, China, India, Japan, and others are from the north and east and also probably “kings of the East.”

Some forget that although Russia is a nation of the far north (cf. Ezekiel 38:3,6), it is also a nation that has parts in the far, far, east.

Russia is prophesied to work with the East militarily.

Although Russia is not the primary power that will topple the USA (nor is China), the reality is that Russia and China have taken steps that they hope will one day lead to the elimination of USA dominance in the world–and the biblical reality is that the USA will lose its dominance.

And while the actual power that will defeat the USA militarily will be European (cf. Daniel 11:39), Russia and China are working together and do have the toppling of USA dominance as a shared mutual goal. Their joint naval exercises are just one aspect of their willingness to work together to attempt to make the USA less relevant.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy and a video sermonette available: Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel. Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? A YouTube video of interest may be Is China THE Threat to the United States of America?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.
Armageddon Dr. Thiel, from Tel Megiddo in Israel, discusses Armageddon, some of its history, and what the Bible says about it. Is this the place where forces in the world will gather to fight? Will they fight here or is the related battle somewhere else. Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more in this video.